PITSEA
White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Essex ~ 1848
Submitted and Transcribed by Essex Villages
PITSEA, a village and parish, 5 miles W. S. W. of Rayleigh, and 4.miles N. of the Thames, is at the head of a creek which runs up from that river at the west end of Canvey Island. It includes part of that Island, as noticed at page 541, and contains 304 souls, and 2048 acres of land, mostly a strong heavy soil.
At the Domesday Survey, it was called Piceseia, and was held by Eudo Dapifer, who gave part of it to St. John's Abbey, Colchester. Pitsea Hall, an old farm house, near the creek, gives name to a manor, which has been held by the Cromwell, Howard, and Cook families, and passed from the latter to that of Moyer. Another manor, called Chalverton, has been held by the Fitzwalters, Howards, Prescotts, and Blincoes. The parish now belongs to various owners.
The Church (St. Michael,) stands on a commanding eminence, and is an ancient structure, consisting of a nave and chancel, with a stone tower, containing three bells, and crowned by a shingled spire.
The rectory, valued in K.B. at £16. 13s. 4d., and in 1831 at £315, is in the alternate patronage of Viscountess Downe and J. Heathcote, Esq., and in the incumbency of the Rev. Charles Hewitt, M. A., of Greenstead, Near Colchester, for whom the Rev. L. T. Edwards, M. A., of Nevendon, officiates.
Boutell Wm. wheelwright
Crooks Abraham, blacksmith
Freeman Stephen, builder
Green Wm. vict. Bull
Grout Robert, corn miller
Harrod James, baker
Hickford John, shopkeeper
Hide Robert, shopkeeper
Hunwicks Wm. lighterman
Jarvis Mrs. schoolmistress
Smith Thomas, vict. Gun
Abrey Daniel ll Bulwar Josiah
Darby John ll Wright W. and A.
Talbot Robert R., Riggs Farm
KELLY'S DIRECTORY OF ESSEX 1933
PITSEA is a parish and village situated on the high road from Grays and Tilbury Fort to Rochford and Southend, about 12 miles from each of the former and 10 from each of the latter places, 33 from London, via Tilbury, and 26½ via Upminster, with a station on the London, Midland and Scottish railway (London, Tilbury and Sonthend section), at the junction of the lines from Barking through Upininster, and from Tilbury, and is in the South Eastern division of the county, Barstable hundred, Brentwood petty sessional division, sub-division of Billericay, Billericay rural district, Southend county court district, Orsett and Grays rural deanery, archdeaconry of West Ham and Chelmsford diocese. The church of St. Michael, standing on a picturesque knoll, is an edifice of stone in the Norman style, and consists of chancel, nave, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 3 bells: the church was rebuilt, with the exception of the tower, in 1871 : the church plate includes a chalice, dated 1597, and a paten, dated 1692, and engraved with the arms of Sir Samuel Moyer (kt.), of Pitsea Hall (d. 1716): there are 100 sittings. The register of baptisms dates from 1688 ; burials, 1738 marriages, 1757. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £300, in the gift of J. M. Heathcote esq. and held since 1924 by the Rev. Ernest William Grevatt, of Leeds Clergy School. hon. C.F. A burial ground of 1 acre has Been laid out by direction of the Parish Council it adjoins the old churchyard; the ground was acquired from the Land Company, in lieu of rights of way surrendered. Hewitt’s charity of £50, invested in Consols, produces £1 5s 8d. yearly. The ownership of the land is much divided. The soil is stiff clay ; subsoil, almost yellow clay. The area is 1,676 acres of land, 17 of inland water and 44 of foreshore ; the population in 1931 was 3,414 in the civil and of the ecclesiastical parish in 1921, 1,131.
Post, M. O., T. & T. E. D. Office (letters should have Essex added)
Railway Station (L. M. & S)
Naval Transport Store Depot, Edwd. P Fielden, supt
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